Bman

Well you guys know exactly what I was thinking at first!

The few Bass we caught were on Spinner Baits. The higher water had them spread out.

Yup, We thought this was it! My son Matt & I were drifting right over "Lunker Central" and sudenly I was hooked up to something huge. After a great fight I brought this fish to the surface! How's this for a big ole DRUM!!! *note* the look on Matt's face, he's thinking YUK DAD!!! come on, let me chuck this thing back in the river!!! The Bass weren't really biting very well for us, but any time fishing with my best fishing buddy is quality time!

I'm no expert, but I believe Cricket nailed it. Crawfish of all sizes are loved by the Smallies. If they are feed on crawfish, the Bass have to suck up some rocks I would think. And yes this is something I consider when Smallie fishing. My favorite Bass lures are Jigs that imitate Crawfish. My confidence bait. I would like to hear what Al or Nick have to say.

Thom, I haven't been down to M.S.P. since the catch & release season ended. With high water the fish will be deep and pushed up against the banks. A Taney dropper rig of egg/scud, or sj worm/scud with lots of tippet and lots of lead should do it. Good luck. I hope to meet you possibly at Taney sometime. I will be at Lilleys the third week in May. Bruce

You are welcome. Although, after seeing the direction this thread I started has taken, I have asked myself if I made a mistake. I always enjoy reading the posts from Al, or zipstick, aka the guru aka Nick.

Ryan, I will keep an eye out for you. I run a grey River Pro.

I'd rather target Asian Carp with my shotgun. Will they hit a fly? I know regular Carp will hit dry flies like when the Cottonwoods are dropping their seeds.

Ryan, I have gotten into schools of whites around G. Winter Park when the Mississippi backs up into the Meramec. Like now. No luck on any of the species you mentioned in the areas you asked about. What boat do you run? I will keep an eye out for ya.

Parkview Lodge is right next to the gas station, and right across from the state park. http://parkviewlodging.com/index.html

Try posting your questions on the River Smallies.com Forum> General Discussion> Watercraft: Motorized http://riversmallies.invisionzone.com/index.php?showforum=47 Lots of jet boat guru's there.

Thanks, Makes our blood boil too!!! We practice catch, (maybe photo) revive, release.

Another great day on the water was had with Nick, the Bass Guru. The Guru, true to his nickname brought the biggest fish to the boat, again. Complete with Lamprey in tow. We clean them of these parasites before releasing. We saw more evidence of gigging season, gig scars!

Leonard and his streamers! While most are using 7X and scuds 20-22's. Leonard is the only dude I've seen throwing big streamers on heavy line during broad daylight, in shallow clear water, and have fish rushing in from everywhere to check his flies out!!!

Nice fish Bud. What did the little piggy eat? One of your awesome streamers I bet.

Welcome to the Forum. Why is the Kirkwood to Rt 66 State Park stretch your favorite?

Have you heard of Ardent reels? http://www.ardentoutdoors.com/default.asp?File=company

Fishpond has them.

These two posts contain some real jewels of insight, and reference. One point, about my personal preference about a positive for strike indicators. They can help you get a better drift. It’s more of a tool to get a better drift when spot fishing, as a last resort, a strike indicator, of the traditional use.

What a beautiful fish, awesome.

Another great day was had with the guru Thursday. A nice one for a pic, but I had several come off at the boat that were awesome Smallie’s. It’s the “I think I’m hung on the bottom’’, until it started moving fish that’s haunting me! I never set the hook. It was big.

FFM, that's a very good point, although that's something of no concern to me as I very, very rarely kill fish.

That is how I pull a jet john up on a trailer in the current. First let the waves that you or others created settle, then come up slowly from down stream and hook the bow on the side board, crank the motor to turn the boat onto the trailer slowly.

For those that go opening day a suggestion to avoid the crowded spots of the park. True there’s a lot of easy to catch fish where the stocking truck stops. Look carefully in other places where the crowds aren’t. Opening day there could be fish in places where you won’t find them the rest of the regular season. If you have your trout stamp and flies such as glo balls or egg flies, go down to the river in the Trophy waters where the spring water dumps in. Just think, at the starting siren, all those people up in the park will be chucking the cheese into the springs and chumming those river fish up! Big time! Use flies in the colors that resemble the baits being used upstream. MATCH THE HATCH! You could have the place to yourself for awhile, unless fishing slows in the park and people see you kicking butt in the river. Or too many people read this post…lol

Nice, but that looks more like 22 3/16 to me.